Colin Kaepernick rifled a 20-yard touchdown pass that Michael Crabtree caught in a blazing stride early in Tuesday’s practice. Four passes later, Kaepernick lobbed a 35-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Crabtree.

Yes, the Kaepernick-to-Crabtree connection lives, never mind that the 49ers’ past two seasons have ended with their failed hook-ups in the end zone.

“He’s a step or two quicker,” Kaepernick said. “He has burst out of his routes. He has burst when he catches balls.”

Crabtree might again emerge as Kaepernick’s favorite target. This camp, however, Kaepernick finally has other enticing options.

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“It makes it a lot easier when you have four 1,000-yard receivers out there,” Kaepernick said, referring to Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and newcomers Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd. “It’s something we’re excited as quarterbacks, as an offense and as a team. “

Tuesday’s team drills also marked speedy rookie Bruce Ellington’s practice debut after an ankle sprain, and Kaepernick said he “doesn’t play like a rookie.” If the 49ers keep six wideouts, Quinton Patton would be the favorite to round out the corps.

That boost of talent is critical to improve upon last season’s 30th-ranked passing attack. Kaepernick not only likes the more weapons he sees, he’s become more vocal in various ways as he enters his second full season as a starter.

“Sometimes he’ll speak up in meetings and give his expectations for landmarks and locations of the ball,” Lloyd said. “He’ll have the floor in the meeting and he’ll be able to discuss what he sees and what he expects out of the plays.”

Kaepernick attributes that in part to his self-confidence, as well as the need to catch the new wideouts up to speed.

“We want to make sure Stevie, Brandon and Ellington are on the same page with what we have been doing,” Kaepernick said. “At the same time I want to make sure everyone hears what I’m saying, so they see things from my perspective, and I hear things from their perspective on how they want to run routes.”

From Kaepernick’s perspective, Crabtree is fully recovered from his May 2013 Achilles tear. Just about the only thing Crabtree hasn’t done this camp is acquiesce to the media’s interview requests.

“I’m excited to see what he can do now that he’s 100 percent,” Kaepernick said of Crabtree.

Lloyd is excited about having emerged from a year hiatus to resume a career that began with the 49ers from 2003-05.

“It’s been good picking it up, but there are a lot nuances and formations that are the curveballs within the offense,” Lloyd said. “There’s a lot of details. It hasn’t been easy but I’ve been enjoying the process.”

“There’s a lot of diversity in how each one of us gets open and how we approach route running and catching the ball,” Lloyd said.

Added Kaepernick: “It’s good to have a variety of receivers with different moves. That makes it harder on defenses.”

Kaepernick completed 7 of 10 passes in the 11-on-11 drills, and although his stat line was solid, there were a few times the passing offense got bogged down by the defense. In a four-play sequence, Kaepernick only got off one pass, as Aldon Smith had a would-be sack and Kaepernick kept the ball on two other snaps.

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We still don’t have the big physical receivers to take on the Hawks corners and safeties.

UpLateAgain

Stevie Johnson beat Sherman like a red-headed step child when they matched up. With more than one competent receiver on the field for the Niners at one time, the Seahawks will be considerably more challenged this year. They are a GREAT backfield……no doubt. But this receiver corps is dramatically better than last year. They’ll have their hands full. I can’t wait to see it play out.

UpLateAgain

Montana has repeatedly said Kaepernick is better than he was at the same stage of his career. That doesn’t mean he’ll end up better, or even as good. But it does mean the potential is there, and having a stable of good receivers will make a difference. As will his experience so far. Kaepernick is only starting his 2nd full regular season…. and even at that he has already won more road playoff games than all other Niner QBs in history combined. It took Terry Bradshaw six years to become competent, John Elway four, and Steve Young five. This year will go a long way toward making or breaking him. I think it will make him.